Department profile
Deka Chambers

Travel: International Personal Injury

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Deka Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Travel: International Personal Injury - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Deka Chambers is one of the leading chambers for cross-border personal injury work. The set houses a strong group of barristers noted for their ability to "handle the full spectrum of travel and international injury work," with experience in the handling of holiday sickness actions and complex catastrophic injury and fatal claims arising from foreign RTAs, maritime accidents and aircraft incidents. Members are highly regarded for their expertise in jurisdiction and applicable law disputes, and are regularly called upon to act in claims under the Athens and Montreal Conventions. The set's clients include several major tour operators, airlines and foreign insurers, as well as individual claimants.

Clark Chessis is the senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Clark Chessis will bend over backwards to ensure an easy process. With him leading, the clerking team has good direction.

    Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are responsive, astute and quick to resolve even the most complicated of issues at a moment's notice.

    Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Excellent clerking. The team anticipate their instructing solicitors' needs so well, with the personal touch, and they always deliver.

    Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Jack Harding
    Band 1Jack Harding

    Jack Harding

    Jack Harding has a wide-ranging practice covering private international law, aviation accidents and package travel. He is also well versed in aviation-related discrimination cases. He represents claimants and defendant tour operators, airlines, hotels and insurers in cases arising from aircraft incidents and outbreaks of illness, including large group actions.

    • Jack Harding is excellent. He gets right to the crux of complex issues incredibly quickly and delivers measured, clear advice. He is excellent in hearings against tricky opponents.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Jack is my go-to junior on cases. He has a phenomenal mind, he is very technical and is able to cut through thorny cases to get to the real crux of the matters.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Matthew Chapman
    Band 1Matthew Chapman

    Matthew Chapman

    Matthew Chapman KC receives exceptional feedback from market commentators. He distinguishes himself through his tremendous knowledge of key travel law directives and private international law. His caseload encompasses a broad spectrum of high-profile fatal accident and catastrophic injury claims. He represents both claimants and defendants in complex cases that often raise novel points of law. His clients include several tour operators, hoteliers, insurers and carriers.

    • Matthew is incredible to work with, has an impeccable eye for detail, and tackles difficult cases with gusto. He inspires confidence.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Matthew really understands his clients and he is the go-to man for this kind of work. He makes highly complex issues look straightforward.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Matt Chapman's technical knowledge on issues relating to applicable law and jurisdiction is second to none. He is approachable, diligent and thorough in his advice.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Sarah Prager
    Band 1Sarah Prager

    Sarah Prager

    Sarah Prager KC is commended for her impressive advocacy skills and handles sensitive fatal accident and catastrophic injury cases that often result in precedent-setting decisions and create new legislation. She is regularly instructed in cases involving foreign RTAs. She is a popular choice among leading solicitor firms on both the claimant and defendant sides. She has significant experience of advising on post-Brexit law and Package Travel Regulations.

    • Sarah is fearless on her feet, and inspires confidence.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Sarah's advocacy and delivery of advice is the best in the business. She can overcome complex technical issues of law and drive towards a solution in a pragmatic way like no other barrister.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • She is a real leader of the Bar for women. She is very down to earth, dynamic and visible across the main judgments in the sector.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Andrew Spencer
    Band 2Andrew Spencer

    Andrew Spencer

    Andrew Spencer acts for and against tour operators in group actions and package travel claims relating to illness, medical negligence and accidents suffered overseas. He is highlighted for his knowledge of jurisdiction, applicable law and local standards.

    • Andrew is a very good barrister to have when you need to reassure a client - he has a very gentle, reassuring bedside manner.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Andrew is our go-to barrister for travel and marine-related personal injury claims due to his expertise and levels of service.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Andrew is an exceptional advocate. He is fiercely intelligent, and is able to identify any weakness in his opposing number's case.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Dominique Smith
    Band 2Dominique Smith

    Dominique Smith

    Dominique Smith is building a strong practice acting for both claimants and defendants in a range of international travel claims. She has been instructed on claims arising from negligent surgery and skiing accidents.

    • She is very approachable, very thorough and prepares carefully.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • She is excellent on her feet, no matter what curveball is sent her way, and nothing seems to rattle her ever. She delivers advice and arguments with grace and intelligence.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • She is a joy to work with and someone who is punching way above her current level of experience. She is a woman of the moment in the work she does in this field.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Linda Nelson
    Band 2Linda Nelson

    Linda Nelson

    Linda Nelson has noted expertise in international personal injury and clinical negligence cases. She is experienced in the handling of complex claims involving questions of limitation and jurisdiction disputes, and is regularly called upon to represent claimants in international maritime claims.

    • Linda offers good support in difficult conversations - she is rational, sensible and understanding. She is technically very good.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Linda is a pleasure to work with. She sticks to her guns, is a tenacious advocate and provides clear, thorough advice.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • She is making a name for herself in maritime work - I really rate her as being very capable and experienced.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Bruce Silvester
    Band 3Bruce Silvester

    Bruce Silvester

    Bruce Silvester appears frequently in large-scale group actions on both the claimant and defendant sides. He handles claims arising from a range of transport accidents, both on road and at sea. He is highly regarded by commentators for his expertise in complex gastric illness claims.

    • Bruce has a very good style with judges. He's very pragmatic and judges really like him.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Bruce is brilliant at dealing with complex issues in personal injury and explaining these to clients with a very straightforward approach.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Bruce has an incredibly good forensic eye, he could find a needle in a haystack.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Giles Mooney
    Band 3Giles Mooney

    Giles Mooney

    Giles Mooney KC is instructed on a range of serious and complex international personal injury matters. He represents claimants who have sustained life-changing injuries during aquatic activities. He has also been instructed on behalf of cruise ship owners.

    • As an advocate, he's really good in court.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3John Ross
    Band 3John Ross

    John Ross

    John Ross KC is routinely instructed in significant catastrophic injury and fatal accident claims and has longstanding experience of acting for claimants and insurers on the defendant side. His cases regularly involve employer liability, indemnity and international safety standards.

    • John is a true stalwart of the Travel Bar. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of case law, and delivers exceptional results to his clients.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • His oral presentation is really standout - it's unmatched. He explains nuances well, really bringing it all together at the end.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Tom Collins
    Band 3Tom Collins

    Tom Collins

    Tom Collins has an established travel practice with experience in appellate matters as well as first instance claims, including in the High Court. He frequently appears for defendants but is also instructed for claimants in catastrophic injury claims.

    • He is exceptionally bright, and he deals with complex issues in very lay-client terms so that clients can understand him easily.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Tom is an excellent advocate.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • Tom is very thorough, and has great perspective. He takes risks, he will have battles when they're needed. He gives you 150%.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
  • Up and ComingAnirudh Mandagere
    Up and ComingAnirudh Mandagere

    Anirudh Mandagere

    Aniruhd Mandagere is an up-and-coming international personal injury specialist. He has particular experience in matters against foreign insurers and cross-border clinical negligence, with additional expertise in complex quantum calculations.

    • Anirudh is very bright.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar
    • He is a future star. He is really impressive, very conscientious and level-headed.

      Travel: International Personal Injury respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Deka Chambers (11)

London (Bar)

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